Friction draft and buffing gear.



PATENTED vMAY 3l, 1.904.

T. L. MAKEBN. FRIGTION DRAFT AND BUPFING GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

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No. 761,534. f

Patented May 31, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS L. MCKEEN, EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

K' FmoTloN D BAFTANDBUFFING GEAR.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. b#61,534, dated May 31, 1904.

To v@all whom/t `may concern/.- .l y Be it known that I, THOMAS L. MCKEEN, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Faston, in the county of Northampton and Statev of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Friction Draft and Bulfing Gears,`of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railway-car friction draft and buiing gears of the type described inl United States Letters Patent, granted to me 4December 2, 1902, No. 714,815, and which involves, besides the usual coil-springs, bowed fiat springs orspring-plates which are arranged longitudinally relative to the draft" and bufng gear and are strained-or compressed laterally and exert their pressure against friction devices and act in conjunction .with the coil-springs to ease and absorb the draft and bufling strains and shocks.

The object of the invention is to produce a friction draft and bniingv gear of this type which combines 'great spring and-friction capacity with extreme compactness and simplicity and in which a spring box or cylinder is provided which incloses and protects the 'spring and friction devices from rain, snow, anddirt and relieves the car-frame and connections for the gear from all lateral strain.

- In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vhorizontal section, partly in plan, of a friction draft and bufing gear ernbodyingthe invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in vertical section, thereof. Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse vertical sectional elevations thereof in lines 3 3 and 4 4, respectively, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal horizontal section, partly in plan, of a platformbuffer embodying the invention.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents cheek-plates of any usual or suitable construction, which are secured toA the draft-sills a and are provided with inwardly-extending'A shoulders or stops c4', and B an inclosing or protecting box, preferably cylindrical in form, which is arrangedl between the cheek-plates and is provided with laterally projecting horizontal wings or Application filed Januaryl, 1904. Serial No. 189,075. (No model.)

l Iiang'es which extend between inwardlyprojecting horizontalllanges cat the tops of the cheek-plates,and horizontal carrying irons or bars CZ, secured to the lower portions of the cheek-plates. The wings or flanges on the box serve as supporting and guiding means, as well as strengthening-ribs, for the same, and their rear ends are connected to the box by transverse vertical plates or portions e, constituting shoulders or abutments, which are arranged in front, of and cooperate with the stops on the cheek-plates to limit the rearward movement ofthe box and transmit the bufling-shocks to the cheek-plates and draftbeams. The cylindrical form of the box is preferred, as it properly centers and holds the-coil draft and, buiing, .springs4 and lends great strength to the box. v

Frepresents the draw-bar or coupler-stem, having secured to its rear endV the usual yoke or loop G, which surrounds the spring-box to connect the draw-bar therewith.

I-I represents va front follower or plate arranged transversely in the front portion of the loop against'therear end of the draw-bar, with its ends extending in rearof" and coperatingwith thefront .stops of the cheekplates in'xf-drawing the car. The follower is duced portion 7L, which enters and is adapted to slide in the contracted front end of the spring-box. The follower constitutes a closure or stopper for the spring-box and effectually prevents the entrance thereto of rain, snow, dirt, and the like, and thus adds greatly to the efficiency of the gear.

I represents an intermediate or central follower loosely confined in the central portion of the spring-box, which latter itself constitutes or takes the place of the usual rearl follower and moves forwardly with the draw-bar and yoke in drawing the car. s

K le represent respectively, outer and ini ner coil draft and bufling springs arranged in the rear portion of the spring-box between and bearing at their ends against the intermediate follower and rear end of the springbox. The portion of the box containing the coil-springs is contracted to properly center and retain the coil-springs and also to form an internal annular shoulder Z at the central portion of the box.

M represents bowed spring-plates or flat springs arranged longitudinally and centrally in the front portion of the spring-box between and bearing at their ends against the front and intermediate followers.

N represents wear or friction plates arranged on opposite sides of the spring-plates and held from longitudinal movement in the spring-box by engagement at their opposite ends with the internal shoulder Z and the inwardly-extending flange or lip a at the front end of the box.

The friction-plates are provided at their inner or adjacent sides with inclined frictionfaces a, arranged in stepped order, and a laterally-movable wedge-plate O is arranged between each friction-plate and the springplates and provided with corresponding inclined faces on its outer side, which bear on the inclined faces of the friction-plates. The wedge-plates are confined between and movable with the front and rear followers and are shorter than the friction-plates, so that they are supported at both ends as well as centrally' by the inclined faces of the frictionplates, and they cannot, therefore, be bent by the lateral pressure thereon in the use of the device. This arrangement of the inclined faces also gives greater friction surface.

When the draw-bar and yoke are pulled forward in drawing the car, the spring-box is also carried forward, and as the front follower is held stationary by its engagement with the stops on the cheek-plates it holds the spring-plates and wedge-plates and intermediate follower from longitudinal movement also. The coil-springs are thus compressed, and the wedge-plates are moved laterally by reason of the engagement of their inclined faces with the inclined faces of the frictionplates, thereby compressing or straining the spring-plates also and creating friction between the wedge and friction plates. In buffing the spring-box is held stationary by the stops on the cheek-plates, and the front and intermediate followers, with the spring and wedge plates, are moved rearwardly to similarly compress or strain the coil-springs and spring-plates.

The spring-plates are nested or all arranged parallel, as shown, for this arrangement requires less space crosswise of the spring-box and permits the use of a spring-box no larger than required for the ordinary coil-spring gear, and the capacity of the spring-plates is equal or nearly equal to twice the number of spring-plates arranged part facing one way and part the other way, and only one-half as great a lateral movement of the wedge-plates is required to fully strain all of the springplates. rlhe friction or wear plates are loosely confined-in the spring-box and can be removed when worn and replaced by new ones, thereby saving the spring-box from wear and greatly increasing its life. All of the parts of the spring-gear are contained in and protected by the spring-box of small diameter, which does not increase the space occupied by the gear, but relieves the car-frame and attaching devices from all lateral strain. The device consists of but few parts, which are of such construction that it is practically impossible for an unskilled workman to improperly assemble them.

Fig. 5 shows the above-described arrangement of the spring-plates, wedges, and friction-plates applied to a platform-buffer. B represents the spring-box, which is fixed to the car-frame between the car and platform end sills; F, the central stem of the buffer; H and I', the followers; M, the spring-plates arranged in the relation before described bctween the followers; N', the friction-plates,

which are held from longitudinal movement in the spring-box by inwardly -projecting stops thereon, and O/ the wedge-plates. This construction operates in buiiing in the same manner as the draft and bufng gear above described.

I claim as my invention l. The combination of a spring-box, two followers movable therein, springs arranged between one of said followers and the end of the box` spring-plates arranged longitudinally centrally in the box between said followers, friction-plates in said box at opposite sides of said spring-plates and each having an inclined face, and wedge-plates between said inclined faces and said spring-plates, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a movable springbox, guide and stop devices therefor, a drawbar connected to said spring-box and movable relative thereto, two followers movable in said box, springs arranged in said box between one end thereof and one of said followers, springplates arranged longitudinally centrally in the box between said followers, laterally-movable wedge-plates between said followers at opposite sides of said springplates, means acting upon a relative movement of said wedge-plates and box to force the wedge-plates against said spring-plates, and friction means between said spring-plates and box, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a movable springbox, guide and stop devices therefor, a drawbar connected to said spring-box and movable relative thereto, two movable followers, coilsprings arranged in said box between one end thereof and one of said followers, spring-plates arranged longitudinally centrally in the box between said followers, lateral movable wedgeplates between said followers at opposite sides of said spring-plates, and friction-plates be- IOO IIO

tween said spring-plates and the box and each having a plurality of inclined faces coperating with said wedge-plates to force the latter against said spring -plates upon a relative longitudinal movement of the wedge plates and spring-box, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a springbox, having an open end, a, follower having a portion which extends into the open end of said vbox and spring and friction devices inclosed in said box, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a spring-box, two followers movable therein, springs arranged between one of said followers and the end of said box, spring-plates arrangedl longitudiA nally inthe box between said followers, fricf tion-plates in said box and each having a Aplurality of inclined faces, and wedgeplatesA each having inclined faces cooperating with the inclined faces of said friction-plates and which are pressed against said friction-plates by said springplates, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 31st day of December, 1903.

THOMAS L. MCKEEN.

Witnesses:

C. M. BENTLEY, C. B. HORNBEGK. 

